Learn the fundamentals of animated motion graphics at your own pace in this self-paced introductory course. You’ll get started by animating core transform properties such as position, scale, rotation, and opacity, while learning how to create engaging text and shape animations. The course introduces essential motion graphics concepts and the After Effects workflow, helping you understand how professional animations are built from the ground up.
As you progress through step-by-step, real-world projects, you’ll explore animation principles, transparency effects like blending modes, and techniques such as masks and track mattes to enhance your videos. You’ll gain direct experience animating photos, text, and graphics, integrating Photoshop, Illustrator, and audio files, and exporting polished videos using essential properties and expressions. By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid foundation in After Effects and the confidence to create animations, titles, and motion graphics projects independently.
What You Will Learn
- Animate text, images, and graphics using position, scale, rotation, and opacity controls.
- Work with masks and track mattes to create seamless transitions and layered effects.
- Apply blending modes and transparency effects for dynamic visual compositions.
- Integrate and animate Photoshop and Illustrator files within After Effects.
- Use expressions and essential properties to streamline animation workflows.
- Export high-quality video files optimized for web, social media, and professional use.
Course Outline
Introduction to After Effects
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Functionality and Uses of After Effects
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Video Basics (Dimensions, Framerate, Timecode, Etc.)
After Effects Workflow
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Importing Files
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Creating & Working with Compositions
Animating Transform Properties
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Position, Scale, Rotation, Etc.
Working with Opacity Effects
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Opacity, Transparency, & Blending Modes
Working with Images, Video, & Audio Files
Working with Animating Effects
Working with Masks & Track Mattes
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Understanding Masks
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Using Track Mattes
Understanding the Timeline
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Timing & Sequencing
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Working with Layer In & Out Points
Creating & Animating Text Layers
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Text Formatting
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Working with Text Animators
Working with Photoshop & Illustrator Files
Introduction to Expressions
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Using the LoopOut() Expression
Working with Essential Properties
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Using Essential Properties
Exporting Video Files
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Exporting from After Effects
This course is available for 30 days. You can choose when to start your access period. Once you activate, you will have 30 days to complete it (access the course materials, quizzes, projects and videos). You may request one extension of seven (7) days. Other extension requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Videos are not downloadable.
